STAR HARRY IS A CITY ‘GEM’
CARDIFF City have described Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson as a ‘gem’ who is wowing teammates and club officials off the pitch, as well as on it.
The Wales star was the Bluebirds’ marquee signing of the summer transfer window, perhaps Cardiff’s biggest capture since landing Craig Bellamy from the Premier League.
Cardiff moved in at the 11th hour to sign Wilson who had seemed destined to join either arch-rivals Swansea City or Derby.
Wilson says that once Cardiff made their interest known, he wanted to move to the Welsh capital.
And Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo told TalkSPORT: “It’s great to secure the services of Harry. He’s a gem.”
Choo insisted reports of a £1.2million loan deal are ‘not correct, to be honest with you.’
Cardiff have been inventive in the way they have done the deal with Liverpool to ensure it is in effect self-funding. They will pay a greater sum to the Premier League champions if Wilson helps them to promotion and Premier League riches next season, while Cardiff are only responsible for a proportion of Wilson’s wages. But the player himself helped get the deal over the line, Cardiff officials describing Wilson as a ‘down to earth character, likeable and with terrific footballing talent.’
Wilson’s involvement as a substitute saw the Bluebirds get off to a post-transfer window flier in the 1-0 win at Preston and he is expected to start tonight’s clash with Bournemouth.
Choo said the success of Cardiff’s transfer window, and the renewed optimism it has brought Bluebirds’ fans, was down to the backing of Malaysian boss Vincent Tan.
“It’s great to have an owner like Vincent who is extremely supportive and has been for so many years,” said Choo.
“His loyalty to Cardiff City is still the same in the days going into the window, during it and towards the end, Vincent was on call 24/7 for us to speak to him about targets.
“He was very supportive and it enabled us to make decisions quickly.”
Meanwhile, Greg Cunningham will be missing for “a few weeks” owing to a hamstring problem he picked up against Preston last weekend.
SHEYI Ojo has described this season with Cardiff City as a “massively important year” for his ambitions within the game.
The hugely-talented winger was brought in on a season-long loan by Neil Harris ahead of the campaign and has just started to find his feet with a succession of impressive displays in a Bluebirds shirt.
The most recent saw him net the winner in a 1-0 triumph over Preston up at Deepdale last weekend.
Ojo is no stranger to loan spells, having enjoyed differing success at Wigan, Wolves, Fulham, Reims and most recently Rangers in the last five years.
But at 23 he wants this one to count. “It’s a massively important year,” Ojo said.
“I’ve had a few loan spells and played quite a lot of professional football, so I think it’s about getting a consistent run of games.
“Touch wood there are no injuries that can hold me back and I can have a strong season with Cardiff and help the team do really well and push on from there.”
Ojo’s ambition is to break into the first team up at Liverpool, but the Premier League champions are extremely well stocked in that department.
In his position he has the likes of
Xherdan Shaqiri and his new Cardiff City team-mate Harry Wilson jockeying for the back-up berth behind Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
Ojo knows he has to produce the goods with Cardiff this term to get a look in back up at Anfield.
So, what was Jurgen Klopp’s parting message to him when he left Merseyside for another loan stint away?
“The main message was just to get consistent games,” Ojo explained.
“Every time I’ve had a loan spell I’ve played and there’s been games I’ve done really well in.
“But it’s just playing a lot of games and having a full season of football.
“Even though I’ve played a lot of professional football I’ve not really had that, so that’s the main focus.
“If I can get that consistent run of games I will be able to show what I can really do.
“It’s been a really positive start to the season for me, because I’ve played all the games and the team is getting better.
“I’m getting fitter and stronger, last game I scored and hopefully that can continue.”
Bluebirds fans will certainly be in agreement that Ojo is looking stronger with every passing match day and he forms part of one of the most vaunted forward lines in the division.
The newest member of that group, of course, is Wilson, whom Ojo has known since he was 17 years old from the Liverpool academy.
“I played with him since I was about 16 or 17. All through the academy, under-18s, played in the Youth Cup together. A little bit of training together in the first team as well,” said Ojo.
“We’ve gone on different paths. He’s gone on loan to a few clubs in the Championship and I’ve done the same.
“Since he’s come in I’ve tried to settle him in as much as I can and he is going to bring a lot to the team.”